Simon White

Simon White is the travel companion you wish you had.

An architect based in London, Simon spends much of his time between the UK and East Asia. There’s no surprise, then, that he was in China when he snapped his iconic #shotoniPhone6 photo seen by millions as a part of Apple’s global ad campaign. He has an eye for the unconventional, a feel for those things laden with emotion, and an insatiable hunger to make every shot better than his last. Follow Simon’s journey on Instagram.

I’m Simon White, and this is How I Travel.

What do you love most about traveling?

Unexpected moments. The adventure aspect of traveling appeals to me a lot – with adventure comes excitement and fun. When you’re traveling, you don’t have to know what’s around the next bend, you can relax and enjoy the moment. Sometimes with a big trip you have to plan and plan and plan, but more often than not I find the most memorable moments are the ones that you least expect. For me, these experiences walk hand-in-hand with adventure.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned through all your travels?

“When we get home, home is still the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything.”

I came across this quote in a newspaper article a few years ago and it stuck with me. I think it’s spot on – travel changes people by giving us direct contact with other cultures, which alters the way we think about our surroundings. So when we return home, our perception of what was may have changed. If we don’t experience living outside our comfort zones it’s easy to lose our appreciation of where we live and what we have. I’ve come to appreciate the people and places of home a lot more than I used to.

How has travel changed you as a person?

Life is short, so enjoy it. I’ve learned to live in the moment and appreciate the smaller things in life, yet grasp at the big opportunities that come my way.

What’s the one travel experience/story that has had the biggest impact on you?

It’s difficult to pick out just one experience, but there was a moment last year when I was selected to take part in Apple’s #shotoniPhone6 ad campaign. That was the first time that one of my photographs received mainstream recognition, and it was after this that I gained the confidence to take photography (architectural and landscape) a bit more seriously. At the time I was actively involved with Shanghai’s Instagram community and was doing lots of travelling in and around China. I learned that acts of travel and community engagement are the catalysts for creativity.

I love the natural look to film, and it’s nice to not have to spend 20 minutes editing each image when you get home. Less time spent in front of the computer = more time for shooting! Film also forces you to think about each shot, because each shot costs money. This means that you won’t end up with all of those typical tourist shots; instead, you try a little harder to capture the real essence of a place.

Whether I’m out shooting all day in the capital or wild camping in Scotland, my Xiaomi power bank will always be nearby in case I need more juice. [Editor’s Note: Of all the items that our travelers bring with them, a portable battery pack is the most common, yet everyone prefers their own brand. Jessica, Pete, Rachel, and Sean all like different brands.)